Identity Crisis; How many people you know use this board Also, I have my name

In my Intro to Nursing classes, we are learning by leaps and bounds about: professionalism, ethics, private life no-no's, and all sorts of eye-opening topics that must be addressed when you consider the importance of nursing as a profession.

On this board my name is my name. Also, I usually place my face with my name. Going even further, I express myself with my name and face attached to my expressions. Even further, and there is a web site, attached to my posts, where people can see various pictures of me (not porn). In those pictures, like a person would put their old license plates on their garage wall, I put my old drivers licenses as a history of where I have been, and what I looked like at that time. As a nurse, what kinds of problems could arise with my identity on the web? How could I be harmed by disclosing my identity on the web? Anybody?

PART 2
As stated before, Mario has learned expodentially from allnurses.com. I have rationalized and solved many intricate questions here. How many people do you know in real life have actually used this board? I don't mean said they do, but ones you have recognized. Like, your friend Mary Smith is really "frufru nurse" and you saw a post by "fru fru nurse" and then talked with Mary Smith about it in real life. How many people do you know, in real life, do you actually know (or recognize) in cyber space, that have used this board?

Poll: How many people do you know in real life use this board?

No one I know and speak to face to face has ever admitted to coming here. I frequently talk to my other nurse friends about these boards and many times they express interest in what we talk about. However, none of them ever say that they also come here. I can't prove that no one I know personally or professionally post or even lurks here but I got a feeling the number is zero. I go out of my way not to mention my full name. I don't mention the name of any place I have worked or the names of people I worked with. I talk a great deal about old coworkers, family and friends but never mention their names. I omit these things because I am shy, cowardly and cautious. However, there are plenty of other nurses who like you who are right up front with this info. I respect all of you for concealing nothing but sometimes I worry on your behalf about repercussions.

Feb 27, '02

What repercussions? Thats what I am trying to understand. Like, can someone keep a file on every post I have ever made, then legally attempt to defame me with expressions made here? Does anyone think, for example, if I am going for a position, and the HR person learns I use the boards here, then uses that information to disqualify me....is that possible? Would someone do that?

Yesterday, in class, the instructor asked openly, "What character/qualities for nursing should you have." I raised my hand and said,"Love." I got the strangest looks when I said love. What is so bad about love? It's not the only quality, but wouldn't you need love? I also said "enthusiasm" and"integrity" but surely love is an ingredient too.

Feb 27, '02

I only know of one person who uses this board. I told her about this board after discovering it myself, and she also became a member.

Feb 27, '02

I don't know anyone personally who comes to this board. I have however, printed out dicussions and taken them to work and shared them with my co-workers. I don't even know if any of them have ever come here.

Feb 27, '02

There is the patient confidentiality for one. We talk about some heavy stuff. Most dont use their real names and none use the patiens real names for that reason alone.

Also we talk about gut feelings etc. How a pt made us mad or how a person we worked with is lazy or questionable incompetent. We have talked about managers on this site.

This is all stuff we come here for advice. We dont want repurcussions if someone found out that we told tales out of the hospital. Many managers get a little bent if they know you are talking about a system problem outside of the hospital.

Feb 27, '02

I don't know any other nurse from where I come to use this board.
But hey, maybe they do.
I use my real first name, but would never, write down my family name, adress, etc.
Second I would not openly per name say bad things about my working place or the place my husband works. You'll never know who is watching and scanning.

Hey Mario, I think love has a lot to do with nursing! I'd love my students to say that! But to say the word love out loud is not "in" at moment. (here it isn't) Better would be compassion.
Ah well, as Shakespeare said: "what's in a name?" LOL

Keep writing Mario, take care, Renee

Feb 27, '02

Originally posted by mario_ragucci What repercussions? Thats what I am trying to understand. Like, can someone keep a file on every post I have ever made, then legally attempt to defame me with expressions made here? Does anyone think, for example, if I am going for a position, and the HR person learns I use the boards here, then uses that information to disqualify me....is that possible? Would someone do that?

Hey Mario...

Don't like to be specific... But I know of an occasion... Let's just say that after I learned of this "occasion", and the reprocussions suffered by the nurse, I changed alot of the info in my profile. And remember, in your profile it gives the viewer the option to view ALL of your posts, from the beginning. No, it's probably not "legal", but that's such a gray area.

To answer the other part of your question, I don't know positively that any of the other nurses I know come here, and I don't really discuss "ALLNURSES.COM" specifically in our conversations, except to a select few that I trust. But really, it's not the posters/members here that I worry about, it's who may be lurking.

And by the way, I didn't see any drivers licenses

Heather

Feb 27, '02

A strong predilection or enthusiasm: a love of language.
The object of such an enthusiasm: The outdoors is her greatest love. To like or desire enthusiastically
Idioms: for love
Out of compassion; with no thought for a reward: She/he volunteers at the hospital for love.
for the love of
For the sake of; in consideration for: did it all for the love of praise
Devotion is earnest, affectionate dedication and implies selflessness: teachers admired for their devotion to children
Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or desire; fondness; good will; -- opposed to hate;
Love, and health to all. --Shak
The love of science faintly warmed his breast. --Fenton
Syn: Affection; friendship; kindness; tenderness; fondness; delight
To have a feeling of love for; to regard with affection or good will; as, to love
To take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to love adventures
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection; "his/her love for his/her work"

Feb 27, '02

Mario, frankly when I saw that you use your name and picture I didn't think "wow you could get into trouble doing that"...exactly opposite, I thought how brave and self confident someone must be to do that. No one ever discusses where they work and do not mention any names....at least not that I have seen so far. People where I work know that I "talk" on the boards and I have enve told them "tidbits" read on here. I feel reading the posts are helpful and a learning experience. Nothing discussed on here isn't something we haven't heard out in the public, in the news, from family members and a variety of other places. Patient confidentiality involves not giving out any Identifying information, but no one does that. And if someone can or would actually come out and say "hey that's me!" they would end up facing the harsh truth of everyone knowing its them. I don't see it happening...but everyone on here should keep to facts and no Identifying info and we should be good to keep up with the good conversations and learning experiences on here.
Take care

Feb 27, '02

Yes, i see :-) I know patient confidentiality is more than extrememly important, and if you appear with your real name, and discuss "x" and "y" then anyone who knows YOU can put'em together and determine your slope (Excuse the graphing connotation) This is excellent.
In another way, you could be "f (g)" and discuss "x" and "y" and other lines (nurses) could draw a function from the relationship (experience) described in a thread. (something we all benifit by reading)
But, being "f (mario_ragucci)" I couldn't do that and remain an "imaginary" point on the graph. This is so cool :-)
Now I see, in reality, I would be wrong to discuss anybody here, even if I changed the names to protect the innocent, because, since i am mario_ragucci, and if I discussed "x" or "y", that would be breaking my own ethical code which is to not talk about a person behind their back. Even if I "vent" a relationship (function) could be derived. And, since I would be disclosing a relationship, anyone could identify "x" or "y" by that relationship I present. Going into personal details (not names) of my experiences here in cyber-space, IMHO, would be breaking my own code. This is so interesting.
I don't see folks here talking in a mean way about anyone or implicating people directly; I'm not asserting that. I just would be barred from presenting a relationship since I appear with my real name. I am a known "origin." :-) (0,0) And thats okay with me :-) I'm finished now, and will only read comments.

If the HR person at the hopital is reading this, please hurry up and hire me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 27, '02

Hello all,
Mario, my concern has to do with identity theft. While I know we all don't know who comes to this board in real life, that doesn't mean that the only people who come to this or any board are nurses, or even the specific population pertaining to whatever topic the board is about ( did that make sense????? LOL) anyways, there are plenty of people who would love to have a stolen driver's license number and can find out all kinds of information about you using your name and address, social security number, personal vital statistics etc. While there is great courage in living your life and being honest, you have to keep an eye out for the less-than-honest people who might just happen across this site and take advantage of the honest folks. Hackers and other mean people abound. (gee do i sound a bit cynnical..????....nah......)

:kiss
Nancy
Jas honey

Feb 27, '02

I fear that someone may see your picture and read your comments and think "Oh he/she seems nice" and think they really would like to get to know you. Well all they have to do is do a search for you and boom they have your address and phone number. and later they can have your nursing lisense. you can look that up too. There's some real strange people out there.